Survey of medical radiation sources in Taiwan

A general survey for radiological health in Taiwan's hospitals and clinics reveals that there are about 63 medical X-ray units per million population and one hospital bed per 104 population. The number of medical X-ray units per million population in each county or city varies from 3I to 131. About 40% of X-ray units in operation have tube leakage exceeding 100 mR/hr at a distance I m from the target. A few hospitals provide medical care with teletherapeutic units, 90Sr applicators, 226Ra needles, and radioisotopes. Contrast to other countries experience, there is a high proportion of male to female professionals among the X-ray operators in Taiwan.